DC officer shot, suspect killed in shootout

The suspect and the officer were both taken to the hospital with gunshot wounds, the suspect later died

By Joanie Vasiliadis
WUSA9

WASHINGTON — D.C. Police say an officer who was shot in the Trinidad neighborhood Tuesday night but has since been released from the hospital.

The shooting happened in the 1300 block of Queen Street, Northeast around 9:10 p.m. Tuesday.

Police say that one officer and one suspect were shot. Both were transported to the hospital. The suspect was later pronounced dead at the hospital.

DC Police Chief Cathy Lanier said that officers with MPD's Gun Recovery Unit were in the residential area when gunfire broke out with an adult male suspect.

"I don't know the initial circumstances around the contact," said Lanier.

Multiple shots were fired, some witnesses said they heard about a dozen during the exchange. The officer and suspect both suffered gunshot wounds.

"It all happened in the street," described Lanier.

According to officials, the officer was part of the Gun Recovery Unit, which conducts firearms interdiction operations to recover illegal guns in D.C. The Gun Recovery Unit that the injured officer is a part of work to recover illegal guns in the district and arrest gun traffickers. They work both in uniform and undercover.

Police have not released whether the officer who was shot was working undercover or not.

Police say there was another officer at the scene at the time, officials said.

"There was more than one officer that was present when this happened. Right now, I can only confirm that there was only one officer involved in the incident," said the Chief, while stressing that it is still very early in their investigation.